Passion

Passion.  It’s the only word I can think of to describe 2013.  I ended 2012 in a sorrowful, pitiful funk...and started 2013 with force.  I aimed to do things a little differently and I have, and I feel like I’m truly about to burst at the seams with how passionate I feel towards…everything!  It's as if I can't wait another minute...for whatever is about to happen in the next minute!

Gym – it’s not that exciting, but thanks to my dear friend Mandy letting me borrow her Nook…I look forward to it every day.  I’ve never been able to read and ACTUAL book on any workout machines, too hard to read a steady line, and keep the book open.  But with the Nook, big font, lies flat – perfect!  AND this way I don’t stay up super late reading, I only read when I’m at the gym so with a good book…it’s something to look forward to, and before I know it my time is up – sometimes it’s WAY up and I’ve had no idea!  Great!

Zumba – yeah yeah – I’ve said it before, but I just love it.  I love the music, I love that it makes me interested in actual dance, I love the workout, and I love the people.  I have made quite a few new friends through several nights of Zumba, and have dragged several of my friends to zumba as well.  The instructors are so positive, it’s not like they are there to do their job and force you to bust your ass…it’s like they are there to have fun with you and make sure you’re having a good time (while busting your ass).  I put this on Facebook a while ago…but it’s fitting for this blog.  During our last session in the former studio, the instructor (Jill) killed us with a particular routine.  When it was done I said to her (while out of breath) “How do you not die?”  and without skipping a beat she said “You live!”  So simple.  Love that girl.

Friends – Broken record I know, but I do know the greatest people, and I challenge you to disagree.  Although if you're reading this, you are probably one of them...so no reason to disagree!  It’s almost overwhelming at times because I want life to slow down.  People often say “don’t you think you’re too busy?”  But I don’t.  I’m very, very busy yes...but I keep it balanced.  My “me time” – is when I’m doing what makes me happy.  All of this makes me happy.  Working out, solo or in a group, and seeing my friends...  Yes, it may be hard to schedule things sometimes, but I really do make an effort to spend time with everyone.  Everyone reading this (and not reading this) is important to me.  Once again we had a beautiful 4^th of July.  Every year a group of us goes to Island Lake. This was my first year without my sweet Budha.  BUT…1. I happened to be watching my friends’ dog for the week so I brought him along, and  2. Happiness is what you make of it.  Beautiful day, with fantastic friends….bliss.

Kitchen – I FINALLY made it to a comfort level financially to remodel my kitchen (nothing major, but to me, it was major) – and though I still have one window and one door to trim, I did it….and it feels fantastic.

Dating – I’ve been dating again recently and it feels great.  No one person in particular but just being back “out there” after being is such a miserable funk last fall/winter.  I love meeting new people.  Or…even being stood up can bring about a hilarious story when you have good friends to laugh about it with (Thanks Amanda, Lisa, and Mandy!).

I feel great.  I’m conscious of what I eat, and how much or little I work out in a day.  I’m remembering to appreciate the small things, to be grateful for what little I have and know it can always be worse, and to really let people know how big of an influence they are in my life even if they don’t think so (and if you haven’t heard it from me yet, know that it’s true for you as well).

I just feel like…after having a miserable 30, and a tough time breaking into 31...I’m finally at a point where...not only am I accepting of it…but I’m ruling it!

Title Fury....and Online Dating

I’ve wanted to write this blog all week...but I’ve really been stuck on the title because what I wanted it to be is – well – inappropriate. I surely don’t want to offend my readers based on the title of the blog, but at the same time – I think it’s hilarious and appropriate and I want to use it. So...for those of you who know me well enough to know that I really do not generally post offensive material, and you have read thus far in hopes to find out what I wanted to title this – here it is:

“Matchmaker, Matchmaker, Don’t be a Snatch”

I wonder how many people just left the page. Well, in any case – here’s why that song parody came into my head. Online dating, the wave of the future? No, it’s the present. It’s everywhere. It’s been around for over a decade. I go on and off dating streaks, and lately have been off....but...ready to be back on. I’ve used the free sites, I’ve used the pay sites. For anyone who is interested but doesn’t know where to start, here is a list and my “professional” reviews of them. It’s nothing to be embarrassed about.

www.eharmony.com – okay actually I can’t remember this one. I think I tried it out once years ago, but as you can see.....it was not memorable....and I don’t think I met anyone from it. (this is pay site)
www.okcupid.com – Has a great mobile app – and it’s a free service. The downfall for this site is the compatibility “tests” which are generated by other users, and can be downright inappropriate questions, and I think actually may hurt their (site owner’s) reputation. I met 2 men on this site, both nice guys, but...
www.plentyoffish.com – I think this is a pretty good site for a free site. I’ve met a few fantastic people on this site. A couple I am still very good friends with. Does that mean because we didn’t settle down and get married that it didn’t “work out”? No. If nothing else – dating is a journey. You know what you’re looking for, but as with anything else in life....appreciate what you see along the way. Maybe you’ll learn something about other people, or about yourself. Maybe you’ll make new friends, and if you never see the person again – who cares – big deal. I sidetracked. It’s what I do. Anyway – not a bad site.
www.match.com – This is a pay site....but it is pretty good and very popular. I have met a couple people on here. Very decent people.

So.....a few weeks ago I decided to actually get back on match.com - which was actually really dumb of me to do now (playing volleyball 3 nights a week, dinner night one night a week, organizing a fundraiser, rearranging living situation, having company, taking on new tasks at work.....NO TIME). Regardless, I go to the gym 4-5 days per week. So I answered one of my questions that way. Well, now all my “matches” are these well sculpted athletes. Let’s get something straight here Match, because I DO go to the gym that often, does not mean I, myself, am a well sculpted machine, nor does it mean that I am looking for model/bodybuilder partner. It means, that I go because I need to, and do I care if a potential mate does? No – he should care about himself, but please – stop intimidating me with all these supermodels.

That’s really it....I thought I’d have more to say but what a shock, I ran out of time.